FCTA demolishes illegal settlement, shanties along Airport Road

The Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) Special Ministerial Task Team, has demolished illegal settlements behind National Park and National Military Cemetery, along Airport Road, Abuja.

The settlement, named Ruga, was demolished while hundreds of shanties, made from sacks, planks and scrap roofing sheets along the rail corridor were destroyed and set ablaze.

FCT Director, Security Service Department, Adamu Gwari, after the operation in Abuja on Tuesday said that the Ruga settlement was characterised by shanties and other illegal structures built on peoples’ plots of land.

Gwari, who was represented by Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, FCT Command and Control Centre, pointed out that illegal structures harbour all kinds of criminal elements.

He said that the site was close to the rail corridor, adding that their occupation of the area could pose security threats to residents using the Abuja Metro Line.

“You know we have had incidents of the rail tracks being vandalised. As such, demolishing the illegal structures would improve security on the rail corridor, ” he said.

On measures to ensure the illegal occupants do not return to the site, the director said that Wike had already warned plot owners to develop them or the FCT Administration would revoke the allocations.

“Most of the plot owners have complained overtime, that they could not access the plots because of these shanties and criminal elements residing here.

“Some of them have tried to take over their plots, but were attacked by the illegal occupants.

“Today, the FCTA has cleared the area and so, we advised them to immediately take possession of their plots of land and begin development,” he said.